#douma x reader

The clock on the wall ticked tocked on the wall where it was hung on the nail.

The entire room was quiet.

Until footsteps walked across the room sounding out. Red eyes stared back from where they reflected in the mirror as hands that were dirtied with the sins of countless lives forever stained on their skin. However instead of causing any trouble tonight, they simply tied a white tie around his neck. 

"Rei, are you ready to go?"

"Just a minute. This new corset is a little harder to tie than the last one." 

Red eyes turned behind him in the mirror where his wife was trying to reach around behind her to untangle some loose beige colored strings on the back of her brown colored corset. After a second he turned around and reached out, swatting her hands away. "Hold still." She did so moving long brown hair over her shoulder as expert fingers plucked at the strings and tightened them with a bow at the end. "Never tighten it more than two inches. It restricts your breathing."

"You are knowledgeable about a lot of things aren't you?"

"I just happened to overhear some ladies talking about it once before. Get ready to go. Our dinner reservations aren't going to wait for us."

"Ah!" 

Instantly his head turned back to the bed where a third set of eyes stared up at him. Small, still not quite able to crawl yet, chubby, and at the moment drooling on the top blanket that he'll refuse to sit on later. Mizue was lifting her front up as she laid on her stomach in one of those overly embroidered baby dresses Rei insisted on putting her in that she'll outgrow within a handful of weeks. Right now she was just staring wide eyed at him with drool seeping down her chin in that devoid-of-any-real-thoughts way all infants had at three and a half months. 

"She's still not asleep yet?"Rei was busy rummaging through the closet for a dress appropriate for dinner with her grandparents. The old fools kept pushing for them to 'come see them'. But her grandfather was a bureaucrat with useful ties he can use and funds he could squander, so for now it was in his best interest to entertain the old fool until he fell over dead or he outlived his usefulness to him. "I thought for sure she'd be asleep by now, but I guess she's a night owl like her daddy."

"Most infants have irregular sleep schedules until later. This is normal." He made sure  to tilt Mizue's head back gently to avoid any drool droplets getting on his shirt as she was lifted with some excited squeals and feet kicks. "But it would be more convenient if she slept when we told her too. Wouldn't it?"

"Aaaaaaaaaaa-"

"Not even a year and talking back to me. One would think you're either bold or foolish, but I will grant leniency this once considering nothing but your hair has developed from your head yet." Another long coo was his answer as she continued to stare at him without any thoughts.

But he didn't exactly care. Because one thing was accomplished that defied even his expectations.

Mizue lived.

Against all odds, this child of his had not only lived past the month expiration date her other six siblings before her died in but any other spawn that came from his demons. After constant monitoring, frequent check ins with Kokushibo's rare sight (and each time sent Mizue into crying fits in the awkward man's hands if she ever woke up during them-), and a little invasive tests-..There was nothing wrong with her. 

And yet he still couldn't understand why.

Why her? Why was Mizue the exception to the rule? Was she just the rare one in a million chance? Was there something there they haven't seen yet? Was it because she was born human? Muzan did not know and that's what both intrigued and infuriated him. Because why did it take six wives and seven children to finally achieve what Mizue is?

He still remembered the first.

Exactly two hundred thirty five years after first becoming a demon. A woman he couldn't be bothered to remember her name, but her father was a very wealthy and established shogun for the time and it was convenient for him to marry her. Exactly sixteen months after that she gave birth to his first. A son. Kazue. He had come into the world screaming unlike his father. He still remembered how he smelled, how soft and genuinely fragile in his arms he was, how he had stared at him with the same red eyes he had. There was something akin to happiness in those fleeting moments. Then exactly fourteen days later that was gone. He just stopped living. Stopped breathing. Stopped having a beating heart. There was no warnings. Nothing that lead him to belief anything was wrong. His heart just..gave out. Then he was nothing but a tiny body his father clutched in his arms screaming the worst obscenities at the woman he dared to bed who could only curl up in a fetal position on the floor and weep. A more closer study of the body later confirmed an underdeveloped heart, Kazue was lucky he even made it to birth at all let alone almost half a month.

At the time it was something that happened sometimes. It was his mother's fault for giving him a weak heart. The second child he never even got to meet when the same woman suffered a miscarriage four months into her second pregnancy. She committed seppuku not too long after to atone for the shame she brought to her father's reputation, found by a servant delivering dinner with one of her father's swords straight through her stomach. He didn't give it a second thought and simply moved on from the mess.

Two wives later and nothing had changed. The second one threw herself from the balcony no children from her. The third had stillborn triplets eight months into her pregnancy. She died from the complications a few hours later. Wife five had no children either, she like the first committed seppeku by sword. The final child from his last wife still didn't even make it to birth..One more miscarriage. She was the one who walked in front of a horse drawn carriage out of shame. 

ALL WERE WEAK!

But he wasn't surprised by then. He had learnt something after Kazue, it didn't matter if it came from him or one of the various demons under him. None of them lived longer than a month at most. In fact the oldest living infant had come from the third ever Lower Moon Five. The child lived for exactly thirty days and ten hours before they convulsed from a seizure and died. The weakling father was killed by Kokushibo for it. His various studies of what bodies were recoverable presented various birth defects and weakened bodies that all attributed to their deaths. But it also seemed that human bodies were unable to sustain the development of demon fetuses. The two DNAs just wouldn't mix no matter what he tried, so he stopped. Long since having come to the conclusion that the only way a demon could be born was by spreading his blood. By all logic, he shouldn't have a child.

But Mizue was not logical. 

Mizue was human despite himself being very far from it. She lived normally for thirty one days. The maximum amount for a month. He counted the days himself and he stood in that nursery with the window tightly closed and stared in disbelief when that same baby woke up crying just after the sun came up on her thirty second day of living. A couple minutes later her mother came groggily walking in, gave him a kiss on the cheek, then picked up the baby to nurse and then give her a bath. Trust me when he studied both the baby and mother in various ways, but found nothing special. There was nothing significantly different about Rei from any other of his wives. Nothing about the plecenta he recovered from the hospital studied and dissected showed anything special about her womb. Mizue compared to other human babies wasn't special aside from she definitely smelled like him. His own blood. No denying that. But there was nothing to answer his questions.

Although Kokushibo was right about one thing. She was an accomplishment regardless and she was healthy.

She had trouble the first few days latching with Rei, but that was normal from what he understands. Aside from just that so far she was hitting all the normal milestones. Most recent one was she started to lift her head up and follow things with her eyes. If no natural demonic traits presented itself later in life he intended on changing her when she reached twenty, until then he'll have to wait and see if anything came out by itself. And document her progress.

"Kibu." He turned as Rei smiled holding up two dresses. One a lilac purple with lace along the collar and sleeves, and the other a tiger lily orange with a button down blouse top to go with it. "Which one do you think?"

"Purple. The other gives me a headache." 

"Oh, Mizue." She took time out throwing both dresses to the side in a chair before she walked right up to the baby and pulled out a handkerchief from seemingly no where. The baby gave a small kick in protest as her mother wiped at her face. "Look at you. Such a messy girl. I hope you're not going to be this messy when you get older."

"I doubt that she will." He had no qualms letting Rei take her from him as she sighed. 

"Well there goes another one of your pretty dresses. You spit so much you'll have people thinking you're trying to eat your own clothes. Lucky for you Mommy and Daddy have to go see Great Grandma and Grandpa so no lecture for you, but you better be a good girl for Nanny Oina." Mizue's response was to giggle at her mother not understanding a word the older woman said at all. She just seemed happy to be getting attention.

"Rei, you really should be getting finished or we'll be late. You know how your grandfather is with appearances."

"You're right. I'm just a little worried about leaving her alone for the first time is all."

"She'll be fine. I've hired the best nanny in the country. She came highly recommended."

"I still can't believe Mya quit after all these years. She didn't even say good bye. It was so unlike her."

Oh yes. Rei's old nanny from when she herself was a child. That old hag was dripping with germs and had made the mistake of crossing a boundary when handling Mizue. 

"What are you doing?"

That old hag had the nerve to look at him with Mizue screaming in front of her on a table. "Nothing but getting her dressed, Sir."

He took one look at her and quickly figured out what was wrong. "The dress is too thick, it's overheating her. That bonnet you tied on her is too tight, it's restricting her jaw. Take them off immediately."

"But, Sir. This is the latest style for little girls. And after all, she'll have to get used to such things once she's older and starts filling these out more." 

He stared at her. When Mizue started filling what?!

"Really there's nothing to worry about. I've raised countless girls in my lifetime so I think I have more experience than you when it comes to shaping them up to be presentable to men."

She was already going to die by that point, but insinuating she was restricting Mizue's jaw painfully and putting her at risk for his child's presentability to men as an infant-...Well-

"Kibu?" He hummed not looking up from the book of foreign plants from a place called 'Mexico' searching for any blue plants to cross breed with a red spider lily to possibly produce a blue one. "Who is that lady reading Mizue a story?"

A demon he had carefully hand selected for this task. He was sure to make her understand with a little demonstration pain what would happen to her if she made the same mistakes as the one before her. "Oh, that's simply just Oina. She is our new nanny and will be helping to look after Mizue from now on."

"New nanny? Where's Mya?" 

"She quit this morning. Didn't explain why, only said there was something she had to leave for."

"That's strange. She didn't even come say good bye to me."

"I wouldn't worry too much. These things happen after all. Why don't you go introduce yourself to Oina? The mother of my child should get acquainted with the one who's going to help look after her." She turned to go. "Rei." The woman stopped to look at him as he looked up to her. "Next time Mizue needs a new assortment of clothes, I'm going with you to buy them."

*************************

"T H A T ' S    B U L L S H I T!!!"

Yuukihime flinched and somewhere behind her she heard Yoko drop the book she was assigned to read in fear of the sudden loud voice startling them both. Things had gotten heated rather fast in the second round of the game. Why? Well essentially Sekido had decided to deal his hand believing it to be a good hand and to be fair it was A good hand..but it was not a great hand like every other demon sitting in the room. But that wasn't what set the red eyed demon off. It was when he looked up the table and across from him, and saw the REALLY good hand Urogi had, and the fact he was the first one out. Making him snap to his feet scaring the human women servants Douma had made come in to serve them (and would no doubt eat later-) into cowering away from the snarling man with fangs and horns.

"There's no way he could've gotten such a good play so soon!!," he accused his avian clone as Urogi only smiled amused which set Sekido off more as he pointed. "YOU SNATCHED THAT CARD SOMEHOW!!!"

"I most certainly did NOT!," He shot back offended now, "Douma gave it to me! Don't start yelling at me just because you suck ass at hitachi-hitahci, Sekido!"

"YOU FUCKING CHEATED!!"

"HOW!? EVERYONE CAN SEE MY HANDS!!" He waved his bare arms and claws at him. "IT'S NOT LIKE YOU COULDN'T SEE ME REACH ACROSS THE TABLE!! IF YOU'RE SO PISSED, BLAME DOUMA!! HE'S THE ONE WHO SHUFFLES AND DEALS THE CARDS OUT!!"

Sekido looked at him, looked at Douma staring back at him with that blank faced smile, then looked right back at Urogi. Even in his infinite anger, Sekido was smart enough to know that turning his ire on a higher rank was the same as signing his own death certificate. If their encounter with Akaza was as bad as they made it out to be, then showing any defiance towards Upper Rank Two in his own home would be worse.

"I still say you did something underhanded! You and Karaku visit those disgusting back alley gambling pitts all the time!"

"Duh! How do you think we got so good at this? You always said those places were 'beneath you'."

"Yo-"

"Sekido." 

A single word. Yet that word made the entire room seemingly colder. Any activity from the demons or humans frozen in time. Not even Daki dared to make a movement. Yuukihime did. Turning her eyes from over her fan to the one person in the room that could give such a reaction with a single word. A warning, threat, and so much more all wrapped in one singular word. Yet that one word is all Douma had to say as the beautiful demon stared unblinking at the red eyed one frozen in time. It sent a shiver down the woman's spine as she continued to sit her perfectly. That stare felt so dead it was like he was frozen and preserved in ice. It was when a human in the room to the left, the closest one to Urami, shivered as well and pulled her collar up more with a shaking hand did a realization dawn on Yuukihime. It wasn't just cold metaphorically.

The room was actually dropping in temperature.

She was already staring at Douma but her eyes had gone wider the longer she stared at the demon. He never moved. He never changed sitting positions from laid back on the giant seat with seven cards in one hand. He never blinked. Endlessly staring at the frozen lower ranked. Yet somehow he was doing something to make the temperature dip. Colder and colder it got. Yuukihime flinched when a plume of colored breath left her mouth, her free hand reached up to touch her lips. It was at that point Sekido's arm stiffly returned to his side, the demon sitting back down on his knees without a word or looking at the one staring at him. Douma continued his unblinking stare for ten more long seconds before finally smiling back to everyone.

"As I was saying, let's all be nice. Who would like some wine? It's imported." He spoke as if what just happened didn't just happen.

Immediately Hairo seemed to perk up with a hum. "Imported? What kind?"

"I think it's called brut champagne? It was a gift from a foreign missionary who was interested in visiting my temple and learning about our culture. His daughter was very pretty for a European lady.~"

She didn't like how he said that last sentence already knowing what it implied he had done....Oh gods wait. Foreign meat. Foreigner. European. 'Monkey relative.' Her throat clenched up in utter horror. She just found out what Douma and Kokushibo had for dinner that day.

"We'll it'd make me a rude guest to refuse that."

Douma made a motion with his hand and one of the two absolutely terrified looking women quickly shuffled over and from a glass bottle Yuukihime didn't recognize, poured a yellowish liquid for Hairo when he held up a glass. Then did the same for Douma when he leaned over, made the girl flinch when he did move, and held up a pretty ceramic cup towards her with a smile.

It had gone like this for the first two rounds of the game. The gambling game was simple but high staked. If more than three people are playing, everyone examines their hands. Starting with the dealer, players decide to either play or drop until exactly three active players remain. Dropping players pay a penalty to the pot or receive compensations based on the initial hands. But either way, the one with the least best hand was out every round. Everyone miraculously either had an equal or neutral hand the first round and so they were given back and Douma shuffled the cards again before dividing them all among the nine demons. That's how you played Hitachi-hitachi. All the cards were taken back and reshuffled every round to avoid accusations of cheating..Or at least it was supposed to prevent accusations. In illegal gambling, it still happened. Men still were killed over said accusations. Still murders happened. Still fights broke out among them. 

She understood how it went.

She also understood what the pile of money in the middle of the table represented too. Yuukihime had never seen so much money piled in her life. That amount alone might've bought her freedom. There was also the pretty belt Gyutaro had handed over to Douma and a small cloth bag the size of a baby's head. She didn't know what was in it or who paid it up just to play, but it must've been valuable to demons at least for Douma to have accepted it as payment to play. Speaking of the demon, that's why she was here. Douma was using her and what she could do as his own form as payment for this game and it promptly made her want to vomit! Just the mere thought of kissing one of these disgusting creatures on the same mouth they used to eat people with-..Shiny eyes glanced at Urogi as he stabbed a piece of raw meat (she really hoped it wasn't some poor human) with one deadly claw of his off a plate Douma provided before opening his maw wide exposing all those fangs and stuffing the raw meat dripping with blood inside before messily beginning to chew. Her throat clenched up tighter as her stomach churned. Don't throw up now! She was glad she made the decision to make Yoko go to the corner. That girl didn't need to see this.

"Yuukihime." Immediately she snapped to attention when Douma addressed her. He had paused in the middle of pulling out a card. "Are you hungry? I just realized you haven't eaten yet have you?"

She didn't think she could eat among these demons, but she wasn't in any position to refuse. "I would not want to inconvenience you in your game, Lord Douma."

"Nonsense. We all are enjoying yourselves so should you. Taki-" Said first woman flinched when addressed. "Go fetch Yuukihime something to eat will you? And do make sure you come back."

"Y-Yes, Lord Fo-Fo-Founder." She responded back in such a whisper Yuukihime barely heard her as she bowed shaking so hard one could hear the liquid in the bottle she held slosh around. And all she could do was pray to Buddha that when Douma killed her it was swift and painless at least. 

But Douma's words had given her an idea. Aizetsu said the deck was big enough for ten people to play. There was only nine demons. 

She snapped the fan shut smiling perfectly as Douma went back to dealing out the cards. "Lord Douma." Instantly said demon's eyes popped up. Hands stopping in the middle of tossing Urami his fourth card. "May I have permission to speak?"

"Of course you do! You're always welcome to speak your mind!"

"Arigato, Lord Douma. I was just wondering if it would be too much to ask if I may have permission to join your game?" There was an immediate reaction out of them all as they stared at her. She merely clasped her hands together innocently. "It looks like such fun!"

"That is entirely out of the question." Urami was first to speak, turning his head away to blow out a plume of smoke he took from the kiseru pipe. "No respectable woman involves herself in gambling."

Gyutaro shot Urami a growl his way as Daki scowled at him. "And just what are you trying to insinuate!?"

Urami just calmly regarded them both with a look. "Exactly what I said. In case you forget your place in ranks, Upper Six."

A single hand was held up by Douma that instantly put a stop to any fighting. Douma stared right at Yuukihime. His dead eyed stare tilted. Intrigued. "Interesting.~ I would be inclined to say yes, but hitachi-hitachi is a pay to play game, Dear." A hand gestured at her. "Seeing as everyone else paid to join, it understandably wouldn't be fair to them if I just let you join in the fun."

The bastard had a valid point. But what did she have that could possibly be considered 'valuable' to demons? She had no money, no jewels, nothing like a rare painting or ancient books written by famous poets- She was NOT going to give them Yoko! That was probably what Douma wanted...It was foolish probably, but if she won all that money it could help her when she escaped! And she would win her own kiss so none of these mongrels had the chance to grab her. 

So she was going to have to offer something none of these demons could resist.

Her.

She pretended to think holding her cheek. "Oh dear...That wouldn't be far to anyone here. You are so right. I know!" She clapped her hands together. "How about I offer my services for a night?~"

Thunk-thunk-

Aizetsu dropped his kiseru pipe that clattered on the table and Gyutaro made a choke sound as they all stared wide eyed at the smiling woman. Yoko looked at her like she was insane! Genuinely utterly INSANE!!

"I ACCEPT THAT!!", Karaku shouted out.

"ME TOO!! ME TOO!!", Urogi quickly agreed raising a hand. "Deal the lady in!!"

Douma slowly blinked. "Services." She nodded. "I'm afraid you'd have to be specific, Dear. I can't accept something...vague."

"Oh, what I do best, My Lord." She offered a half lidded look to them all. In the back she saw Gyutaro gulping down the lump in his throat. "Cleaning, playing music, card games, singing-" Slowly the excitement drained from both the perverts' faces. "I can do a number of those things!"

"Well that's a let down." 

"Shut up, Karaku!"

Douma continued to stare at her for a moment longer. "....Well I guess that's as good as a payment as any! As long as you keep your end of the bargain!"

"I fully intend to, Sir."

Yuukihime smiled fanning herself with one hand and watching as seven cards were expertly tossed across the table and slid until they stopped right in front of the doorway she stayed put behind. Ever so slowly she picked them up as the other eight remaining demons got theirs. Minus Sekido as he was permanently out. He continued to sit there fuming that he wouldn't get the chance to reap the rewards. Her eyes glanced across the seven cards in her hand...It wasn't a bad hand. Actually it was a really, really GOOD hand. If she dealt it now, she'd be perfectly safe. But-...Her eyes glanced around subtly at the others. Both Daki and Aizetsu visibly frowned at their hands. Which means both had either bad hands, or they didn't like theirs. Which meant she had a chance to knock out two birds with one stone if she both metaphorical and literally played her cards right. So her eyes snapped down before any could notice her staring. And she did what she always did best.

Be what others wanted her to be. They wanted a loser so she'd play a dumb, dumb loser.

She stared neutrally at the cards for a moment...then ever so slowly furrow her brows and tilt her head. Focusing very hard on the middle one. She made sure to show herself slowly stop fanning herself too to really sell the act. 

"Have you even played this game?," Aizetsu's voice asked.

Got him. She slowly shook her head no still staring 'confused' at the cards. "I was taught to play by my teacher but I've only ever played koi-koi, Sir." She answered truthfully. Slowly her hand put the fan in her lap as she hovered it over the cards as if trying to figure out how to shuffle them.

Well her little ruse worked well. She honestly wasn't expecting it to. Eight out of nine players dropped their cards down on the table. All but the human. Two bad hands were put down as Douma examined them all before tsking.

"Aizetsu. Daki, Dear. I'm afraid you're both out."

"WHAT!?" The only other woman demanded snapping at Douma. "That's not fair! My cards are better than his anyways!"

"Actually-" Hairo raised a brow between hers and looking down the table towards Aizetsu's as the blue eyed demon just stared forlornly at the bad decision he chose to make. "It looks like you both have the exact same cards."

"SHUT YOUR TRAP, LOWER MOON!! NO ONE ASKED YOU!!" Immediately her eyes went looking around for something to take her ire out on and found the human still holding seven cards in her hands. Immediately she zeroed in on her and pointed an accusing hand. "SHE'S CHEATING!!! SHE DIDN'T EVEN PUT DOWN HER HAND!!"

She was expecting that reaction. "Forgive me, My Lady. Is not one of the rules of the game is that you can skip placing down your cards every few rounds?"

"That's not how the gamble works!" Immediately she snapped at Douma. "That's not how it's done for gambling is it!? Tell her she's cheating and out of the game!" She demanded.

At this Douma genuinely paused. A hum escaping his throat as his hand tapped the floor. "Well-...Neither of you are wrong. That is a rule although that rule is not usually applied to gambling with high stakes." After a moment he held up a finger. "Since it's your first time playing this game I'll let it slide just this once but going forward you must play it like everyone else."

"Yes, Sir. Arigato."

Daki looked between him and her a few times..before crossing her arms and pouting in a way that reminded her of a child. Such a spoiled childish woman she was, and such perverted clothing. Yuukihime could never even think of exposing that much skin even on sweltering summer days. Three demons down only six more to go. All the cards but her own were taken back and reshuffled by Douma, probably because she chose to hold her hand instead of dropping or dealing it like everyone else and thus would have to play her 'bad hand'. She merely continued her oblivious act, carefully picking up one card...putting it back, hovering over a second one...Slowly pulling out a different one and putting it on the end to the left- Before taking it and putting it on the end to the right. Fully playing up the 'I do not know what I'm doing' act. And it worked because Karaku snickered. 

"Would you like a piece of advice, Dove?~" He leaned over smirking, head in hand.

Immediately she perked up wide eyed in 'awe' and nodded. "Oh yes. If it's not going to get you in trouble. I just do not understand which way to place my cards."

He grinned wider. "The order of the cards doesn't matter. It's how good of a pair they are when put all together."

"Oh! I see." She hummed looking back at her own cards tilting her head a little still 'unsure'. "..I am not sure if this is a good or bad hand at all."

"Well you either play it or decide to drop and pay the penalty, Dove."

"Well-...Better to try and fail then to never try at all I suppose."

"That's the spirit, Sweetheart. Don't worry." He dropped his cards on the table facing up playing them as Douma looked at his. "I'll make sure the both of us-" She slowly put her cards down on the floor as if unsure as Douma looked at hers. "-have lots of fu-"

"Karaku, I'm afraid you're out." 

He stopped mouth wide open. Beside him Urogi leaned forward to look down the table before he threw his head back and HOWLED with laughter. Instantly his mouth snapped shut as green eyes glanced around the table at everyone else's hands, then at her own, then he sputtered trying to put together a sentence as Urogi and even Daki laughed at him..before he frowned at the table. Yuukihime raised a hand to her mouth before looking at Urami still seeming confused.

"Was that a good hand then?"

He nodded. "Very good. Probably the second best hand on the table."

"Oh, dear. I didn't mean to embarrass you, Lord Karaku. Please accept my apologies." Inside her voice was cackling to high heavens at her victory. Go suck on a hot ember from a hearth, you perverted swine!

The next four rounds were carefully planned out. She risked it the very next round and lucky no one was out from everyone having a good hand. Her food was delivered so she ate while continuing to play confused to it all. Urogi had to drop one round because he just randomly got dealt a very bad hand which left herself, Urami, Douma, Gyutaro, and Hairo. Fourth round is when Douma's luck finally ran out. It wasn't a bad hand but one card Gyutaro had made his one better than his so with a shrug he called himself out but still dealt out the cards. Three demons and herself being the last few players. She just had to win three more times if possible but she was keeping a more optimistic mind if possible. She still had to play her cards right and pick who she would try to eliminate next. 

Hairo was an unknown...And Unknown men were the most dangerous kind. She wasn't about to take a gamble with him. At the moment he simple blew out some smoke from a kiseru pipe while placing a piece of finely cut raw meat (again she hoped animal meat) in his mouth watching Douma shuffle around the cards for the next round. She could tell from the way he sat and how he dressed, he clearly was the serious type most likely very militant. Yet- Her eyes glanced down to the hat that sat on the floor next to him. He took it off and hadn't put it on the table, clearly respecting the fact that literally every single one of these demons were Upper Ranked, leagues above him. Clearly he was showing respect to Douma. He never spoke a word of annoyance when Upper Four was fighting with each other. But most importantly, Hairo HAD shut up when Daki told him to shut up. He hadn't spoken a word since she did. Which meant that despite Daki acting childish, he was listening to her as an Upper Rank. Which meant he either respected the ranks, was afraid of Gyutaro acting out on his sister's behalf, or both. She hadn't figured out which one yet. Other than all that, she didn't know him enough to deduce anything yet. What few words he spoke however had been polite, factual, and calm. Which matched his militant posture he possessed. 

Gyutaro or Urami had their own problems. Gyutaro no doubt would let Daki come with him if she asked him. Which meant she'd have to deal with not offending a childish woman and placating and trying not to get on her brother's bad side if he thought Yuukihime had offended Daki in anyway. Not to mention she was not over Gyutaro dropping a head in her lap. Urami was out of the question. He himself may be alright if it was just him, but she had to worry about six others as well as Zohakutan should he choose to reveal himself once more. She was not a fan of the young looking demon...So she would have to try to eliminate Urami first which she had a chance too when she just happened to glance the underside of a card Douma threw between the two of them. Herself and Urami. THAT WAS A KEY CARD. A automatic win one. She had to grab it. So when it hit the floor and slid towards them she immediately reached for it but so did one of his giant hands. 

"Oh!" She immediately stopped, pulling her hand away to give him big doe like eyes. "I beg pardon, Lord Urami. Did Lord Douma toss that to you? I thought he was tossing it to me."

Automatically he held up a hand. "No. You take it."

"Are you certain, Sir?"

"Yes. By all means, it landed closer to you anyhow."

Sucker. She smiled at him. "Arigato, Lord Upper Four. Your kindness is greatly appreciated."

That earnt him a few dirty looks from his fellow demons but she did not care. She had what she needed so when she dealt her hands and Douma once again carefully skimmed over them-

"Sorry, Urami," He apologized to the oldest looking demon. "It would seem your hand is the least out of everyone's. I'm afraid you are out, Old Friend."

To be fair to the demon (and she hated she was-) he was a good sport about it compared to how Sekido had first reacted. So now it was just down to the three of them. Daki nudged Gyutaro with her elbow and whispered something that automatically made his eyes go wide before he looked at her. Yuukihime blinked before smiling cutely at him. His reaction was to look away immediately and begin scratching at his shoulder as Douma shuffled the large deck again. By this point everyone was just sticking around for the free drinks, food, and tobacco and to see who would win. Sekido seemed to have calmed down now at least, calmly puffing on a pip Aizetsu was nice enough to have passed him and held a drink in the other hand one of the two still terrified looking girls filled for him. As the cards were shuffled a lot as finally the game had only three players left which how it was usually played. Then quickly they were split three ways. Seven cards each. Calmly she picked up a card, and still playing dumb and oblivious, she smiled and picked up one particular card from the lot.

"How pretty. I always admire the work the artists put into painting all these details into such little spaces."

"Of course that's the first thing a woman would notice," Sekido spoke but it didn't sound demeaning despite it actually BEING demeaning.

She tilted her head at him and in a bold move held out the card to show the red flowers hand painted on it making all the demons stare. "Do you not they're pretty, Lord Sekido? I always thought flowers were." 

"PUT THAT AWAY!!," he immediately barked. "You're not supposed to show your cards!"

"Oh!" She slowly pulled it back. "My apologies. I just thought wanted to show you since you aren't playing anymore, so I didn't think it would be a problem."

She decided to make a bold move. The red flowers was one of the best cards you could have. Didn't guarantee a win, but it did make it more likely. She wanted to gauge Hairo and Gyutaro's reactions. Hairo rose a brow but remained neutral. Gyutaro stared a moment before looking at his own cards....the table shook slightly as with a bang, he placed his cards down and slid them towards Douma with a pissed off expression.

Douma tilted his head at him. "Are you dropping out, Gyutaro?" With a grunt the green haired demon nodded. "Well if that's the case-" He clapped his hands together before rubbing them with a smile. "That makes both Yuukihime and Hairo tied for the last play!"

Yuukihime blinked 'surprised' at him. "I am? Oh, dear. I wasn't expecting this."

Douma nodded. "Now both of you place down your cards and whoever has the better hand will be the winner. If you both have an equal amount, I'll shuffle them again."

"Alright." She calmly put all seven on the floor in front of her, including the one she showed earlier. It was a really good hand! 

Hairo also placed down his. Douma looked at hers then looked at his. Before smiling. "Hairo wins with the better hand! My! Wasn't this just an exciting game! We should do this more often."

Yuukihime had paused before also looking at Hairo's along with everyone else and everyone saw his hand had seven valuable cards. ALL SEVEN!! AND ALL AT RANDOM!! WHAT KIND OF LUCK WAS THAT!? Hairo only smiled as everyone stared at him.

"Sekido's right! This was bullshit!," Karaku muttered clearly disappointed.

"Now, now. Remember one of my rules is no in game fighting." He gestured at the monochrome demon. "Hairo won fair and square so we should all be good sports about it!" And obviously no one was going to argue back against Upper Two. "Well don't be shy!" He gestured to the table. "Go claim your prizes! You earned it!"

"My regards, Upper Two." 

He nodded at the beautiful man before reaching out and everyone watched as he began scraping everything towards him. Lots of money, whatever was in that poach, the very fine crafted belt, and even the unopened bottle of Ise Nishiki. She watched him slowly carefully count out the money and put everything away under his cape seemingly making it disappear into thin air. Then he turned those blue and black eyes towards her.

Oh, dear. 

She had temporarily forgotten that SHE was also a prize to be won in this game. He said nothing only smiling, before slowly standing up, and making to slowly walk around the table of glaring and growling angry demons towards her. She slowly also stood up, making sure to take one step back into the room for safety just in case but otherwise she stood still and calm as he stopped in front of her. She stood perfectly still as she politely smiled at him staring at the kanji in his eyes, before bowing towards him. 

"It's a pleasure to meet Lord Lower Moon Two. I am called Yuukihime. I am at your service. My apologies for not addressing you properly earlier upon meeting."

An amused chuckle escaped him. "Well there's always a first time for everything isn't there?" She slowly leaned back up and took note of him looking her up and down studying her with a smile. "So this is the face that caused the destruction to forty four different levels of the Infinity Castle." 

Infinity Castle? Is that where she was? She made sure to make a mental note of anything important he said as she continued to smile at him silently. 

"If I knew this is what was offered, I would've saved everyone else the headache and made you my wife-" A hand of his grabbed one of hers and held it up. "-with a pretty ring on such a pretty pair of hands.~" He leaned over and she repressed the urge to throw up as those same lips that just ate the raw meat, kissed her knuckles. 

Instead she covered her mouth with her other large sleeve and giggled perfectly. That shy but flustered giggle she strained her throat dry to perfect with beatings from Tsuyusaki to get right. The same giggle that caused Gyutaro to snap the kiseru pipe in his hand and at least five other demons staring wrath into the back of Hairo's cape. She couldn't believe she had to kiss this disgusting creature. If Buddha could hear her, PLEASE grant her at least one saving grace this time. PLEASE, PLEASE!! She was begging you dear gods.

BING-

"WHAT THE FUCK!?"

All heads snapped over behind her. Instantly Hairo straightened his spine with a loud bone snapping sound and absolute RELIEF flooded her as she stared at an absolute angry pink haired demon. 

THANK YOU, BUDDHA!! THANK YOU!!

Akaza stared wide eyed and jaw open at them both, then at the demons still sitting at the table, then finally his face morphed to absolute RAGE once Douma waved at him from where he sat. "Greetings, Akaza! Have you changed your mind about joining our game? I'm afraid it's too late since it ended but we can start up a new one for you if you'd like."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ALL DOING IN MY DOMAIN!?," he demanded his left fist balling up and veins popping out along his arm.

"Oh, no no no! We are not in your domain, Akaza! We are in mine! We just invited Yuukihime to come and watch us play is all." He held his arms out. "As you can see, none of us are one inch inside yours." 

"Greetings, Lord Akaza," she greeted him with a bow which made him turn his attention onto her. "It's good to see you again. Please excuse me one moment while I fulfill my duties." 

Before anyone could react or say anything, she turned back around, quickly leaned up, and did something that would send off an angry chain reaction. Hairo went still as two lips pressed to his cheek and quickly retreated, leaving a perfect red kiss mark behind from her makeup. The reaction was instant. She felt herself get yanked back by a angry fist and found herself by Akaza who was growling at the Lower Moon. 

"What the hell is going on around here!?," he demanded.

"Lord Hairo was told to claim his winnings." Akaza looked at her as she calmly explained. "One of them was a promised kiss. I must fulfill every duty placed upon me by my Masters after all."

Akaza stared at her before slowly those eyes turned back to the demons in the room. Golden pupils changing into slits of unspoken silent rage that had most of the other demons leaning away from Upper Three. Especially Upper Four as flashbacks to what happened when they invoked his wrath prior played in their minds. No one said a word but Hairo slowly placed his hat back on his head adjusting it before nodding at herself and Akaza. 

"It would seem now is a bad time. I'll swing by at a later time for the rest then. Upper Three. Madam."

She smiled and bowed to him. "I understand. I shall await your return, Lord Hairo. It was a pleasure to meet you." She then turn to the other staring demons and bowed to them. "It was very nice to see you all again. Thank you for allowing me to participate in your game." Then she stood straight back up and stared right at Douma, and smiled. "Thank you for all your help as always, Lord Douma."

"Oh there's no need to thank me. I am simply doing my due diligence."

She still smiled right at him. "Otsukaresama."

The body went still under that word. That singular word that meant an entire phrase. Those eyes continued to stare at her the same. Glassy, beautiful, colorful, perfect..Like stained glass shaped to perfection to only then be carefully polished up and shaped into the shapes of eyes to be placed in a beautifully crafted sculpture. The hand holding the golden fan lowered.

The woman's expression hadn't changed from the calm neutral one she had since this entire debacle began. Even the always jabbering Urogi had gone quiet as soon as the single word left her lips. The room was still and silent. Until eventually one voice broke the silent streak.

"Eh?," Gyutaro asked involuntarily which was something he always did when something confused him.

"Hold on there. Are you saying that-" Slowly Karaku pointed at her..before the pointing finger drifted to Douma. "-to him?!"

Across from him Aizetsu lifted his drink to sniff at the sake to be sure there was nothing in it. He couldn't have been drunk enough to mistake what she just said to Douma right? Douma himself blinked at her eyes going wide. That was the last bit of patience Akaza could take. SLAM!! The sliding door was slammed closed so hard, a big crack ran from the top of the door frame to half way across the ceiling. Oh, dear. Now she'd have to deal with an angry Akaza after complimenting Douma like that. The angry demon was heaving and hissing through gritted fangs death glaring at the door as she turned to him and bowed which made him snap to her from the movement. 

"Otsukaresama. Yuukihime is grateful for Lord Douma for the food and medicine and Lord Akaza for the shelter."

Yoko merely cowered in the corner as Akaza silently stared right through her...before he slowly relaxed back a little. "You don't need to thank that fucker!"

"Forgive me, Sir. I must treat all my Masters with the same courtesy and respect. I am not allowed to do so otherwise."

"And that kiss?!"

"I must do what they tell me. I only exist to obey."

"Oh yeah?" A snarl escaped him. "Who told you to kiss that bastard than destroys his own brain every five minutes?!"

"Lord Douma, Sir. As Upper Rank Two, he had the most authority."

A dry chuckle escaped him. "Of course it was his idea. I leave for a few days and he thinks he can pass you around like you're just one of his own personal human slaves! When I get my hands on all those bastards-" 

Yes. You see that's precisely why she chose to quickly kiss Hairo on the cheek and complimented Douma so highly. If they were too angry and busy being at each other's throats, then Yuukihime and by extension Yoko would be more of a second thought. Giving her more time to plan ahead and get herself back into good health.

"Here." A box was held out in front of her. "I brought you something."

She blinked. Another courting gift. Accepting this would play more into Akaza's delusions, but again she had no choice. "For me? You didn't have to, Sir. Your presence is a gift enough."

"Well...Just take it as a reward for good behavior."

"Arigato, Lord Akaza! Your kindness is greatly appreciated." She slowly took it noting his face growing pinker as she opened the box and was hit with a delectable assortment of sweets. Rice cakes, daifuku, manju, mochi- 

"I..heard you were fond of sweets. There was a bakery in the same city I was hunting in."

The same city he killed and ate some poor men in before he just visited a bakery to get her baked goods like he didn't just murder someone. It made her sick! She smiled at him perfectly polite. "Thank you so much, Sir. I've never had someone gift me such a wonderful arrangement of sweets before. Won't you share them with me?"

He held up a hand. "Never was fond of how they tasted myself. Besides, you need the fat on your bones more than I do. Eat them." He then turned to the girl still cowered in the corner. "Girl." Yoko flinched as quickly he held up his clenched fist and tossed something at her. She jolted as something just landed in her lap. A small cloth poach that spilt open on her dress. Curious both women looked at it and both were surprised to find konpeitō candy. Yoko stared at her lap before looking up at him in question. "You earned your keep. Keep it up and maybe I'll bring you something else." His eyes narrowed. "Just don't push your luck with me."

Slowly Yoko picked up a piece of the candy from her lap...and placed it in her mouth. Her black eyes widened at the sweet taste before she smiled and began to stuff her face with the candy which made Akaza raise a brow. 

"Slow down. I'm not going to take it away. I don't even like sweets."

TAISHO SECRETS:

-Kazue is a name that loosely translates to mean 'single blessing.' He was Muzan's first and he made the mistake of becoming attached to him before he unfortunately passed away. Remember Muzan was still in his 19 teenager mindset-ish at the time and had never really had any family who he could actually consider his own. Mizue is THE one in a million chance and just...happened. No real reason why. It just did.

-If you're wondering what happened to Mya, Muzan literally ate her and had a demon of his get rid of her belongings. 

-VOCAB-

Brut Champagne: Invented in 1874 by Madame Pommery for the British market, this bone-dry style eliminated heavy added sugars. By 1900, it was rapidly conquering the global market and remains the standard today.

Arigato: Thank you in Japanese.

Otsukaresama: 'Thank you for your hard work'. A Japanese expression that honors efforts, not just results. Sometimes the greatest recognition is simply knowing someone noticed how hard you tried.

Konpeitō: A colorful star-like Japanese sugar candy.

Muzan: Confusion

“You shaved your bush?” Muzan could only blink back his disbelief.

Why on Earth would you shave when you could easily afford the luxury of waxing, or even laser hair removal for that matter? He did not mind funding your expenditures, and frankly enjoyed it. Providing your every capitalistic desire was a point of pride for the man. To take that away was the greatest betrayal.

“I did.” You offered a curt nod, unsure how to read the man as he suppressed his emotions. Even just the slightest furrow of his brow would give away his fleeting vulnerability.

“I see.” It took every ounce of strength he had to hold his tongue. As much as he wanted to lash out at you, he carefully maintained his composure. “Next time, you are to get it removed using alternative methods. I don't need you getting pesky ingrown hairs from some cheap razor.”

Not only were ingrown hairs painful, they did not match his aesthetic of perfection. The last thing he wanted to look at before intimacy was red, hot inflammation. That was a humiliation ritual in it of itself from his perspective.

“Cheap?” You raised a brow while holding in laughter. There was a stutter in your chest with each sniffled breath. “Oh Muzan, I used yours.”

To put things lightly, he forbade razors from entering the premises. He didn't even own a razor in the first place, thus proving your innocence in the name of jest. He said this was out of principle, but you knew this was only because you had gotten under his skin. Because in this life, Muzan could never be wrong.

Kokushibo: Distaste

Kokushibo spoke slowly, disliking the choice of words he was forced to utter. “You shaved your bush?”

Had it not been for the way you were shamelessly flashing him as though you were wearing a badge of honor, he'd have half a mind to not believe you. Sure, having a liar as a significant other was bothersome, but something he could correct through discipline.

This was something else entirely, something he wasn't sure how to file away in his mind.

Sure, you could make the decision to shave your pubic region, but he was also entitled to believe it was the wrong decision. A mistake at best, but more likely a misstep entirely.

“I did.” Your fingertips grazed over the bare skin. A faint fraction of a smile tugged at the inner corners of your mouth. “It's smooth.”

His eyes narrowed, barely giving you a modicum of insight on his thought process. Reading the aloof was like reading the dictionary: a massive pain in the ass, and frankly, a waste of time.

“I will not tolerate this immature behavior from you.” Venom soaked his tongue, dripping down the back of his throat. “You act as though you are a mere child.”

“I'm n-” you protested in vain, silencing yourself with a single, imposing stare.

In a single fluid movement, he forcefully tugged your skirt back down to your thighs. As much as he had a few choice words about your wardrobe decisions, you were alone. But, he could not allow the lies to stand.

In the morning, the apex between your legs remained swollen. Walking had become a chore, your knees jello. But you had managed to survive.

Ultimately, his plan backfired, for him. As for you, how could you not enjoy reverse psychology being so effective?

Douma: Perplexion

Douma's thick brows raised ever so slightly and his lip parted in exhale. For a moment, he stood in a state of disbelief. The inner corners of his mouth slowly drew inwards as his curiosity blossomed.

“What is this?” His tone remained benevolent, albeit the playful bounce it typically masqueraded in had practically vanished. “You shaved your bush? Goodness, whatever for, little lotus?”

Had he not taught you to cherish your natural state enough to not resort to appearance altering tactics? Oh, you poor thing. He had failed you, hadn't he?

“Just because, I guess?” You nonchalantly shrugged, tilting your head to the side in unison.

“Just because?” Douma repeated, completely dumbfounded by your simplicity. Wearing a smile to shower you in praise regardless, “Oh, I just adore the way your precious, little head works.”

“So you don't mind?” The pulse of your heart hammered in the cavity of your chest. 

You had noticed the way his expression shifted, if only for a moment. The notion of disappointing him was one you simply could not stand. There were very few things that could possibly be worse, and even those were cutting it close.

“If it brings you joy, then why would I ever complain?” He buried an acute giggle fit into the tips of his fingers. There was almost a glint in his eyes, but it was only the hues of his ethereal, opalite irises glimmering in the lighting. “Perhaps next time I could assist you? It would be no trouble at all.”

If Douma were an animal, he would be a cross between a leech and a koala. Clingy yet adorable like a koala, opportunistic like a leech. Once he latched onto his prey, he refused to release his grip.

Despite that, you could only see the cuddly attributes, blind to the predatory nature beneath the surface. How could you deny the quiver of his bottom lip as he pouted? He was virtually irresistible.

“Oh!” You could hardly contain your enthusiasm, not that you needed to. He already knew. “Of course!

“Wonderful,” he delighted, clapping, “Oh, and thank you for being so vulnerable with me. Such a brave soul.”

Akaza: Uncertainty

“You shaved your bush…” Akaza repeated, unsure what to make of the matter.

On one hand, it was your body, and therefore your choice. On the other hand, he believed you should love yourself as you are. Growing body hair wasn't an imperfection to remove, it was only a normal bodily function.

“Yes.” You nodded once. “I shaved my bush.”

“Why?” He raised his eyebrows, hoping your response would alleviate his moral dilemma.

“Dunno.” The muscles in the shoulders twitched. “I just wanted your reaction I guess.”

The fainted sigh slipped past his lips. For a moment, his eyes rolled to the ceiling before meeting with yours once more.

“Well, who am I to tell you what to do with your body?” It wasn't as though shaving would kill you after all. “All that matters is what you think.”

“Aw.” A bashful grin spread across your features. “You're such a sweetheart.”

As your lips pressed to his cheek, he muttered with a smile, “No I'm not.”

Sekido: Agitation

“Why are you telling me this?” Sekido's right eye twitched.

It was one thing for you to waste your own time with meaningless tasks. That was something he could accept — stupid as he may have found them. But to waste his time by informing him? That was unforgivable.

“Would you like to see?” You reached toward your lap. “I worked hard on it.”

“Worked hard?” His mouth was agape. Hard work would be actual landscaping, not your handiwork with a razor.

“Yes.” Your chest puffed out with pride.

“I prefer the natural look.” Ruby eyes returned to the book you had interrupted. He made the mistake of believing he had the upper hand. “Therefore, I will be uninterested in coitus until it grows back.”

A vein throbbed in your forehead.

After a brief lovers’ spat, Sekido decided his reaction was indeed rude. And in your version of the story, he begged on his knees for forgiveness. Whether or not that was true or not was something Sekido would take to the grave.

Karaku: Supportive

“You shaved your bush?” The corner of his mouth twitched into a shit eating grin. “I shaved mine too.”

“You shaved your bush?” The corner of his mouth twitched into a shit eating grin. “I shaved mine too.”

Karaku had it down to a routine. Every other day, he stole Sekido's razor because his own had been misplaced for weeks. He'd then exfoliate, lather his groin in shaving cream, try not to cut himself, and apply moisturizer to avoid ingrown hairs.

The best part? Sekido was none the wiser.

“You stopped waxing?” Your eyebrow tipped up. 

Karaku was like a cat, constantly grooming himself. Why would he eliminate something that made his life infinitely easier. Having collaborated in the bedroom together, you knew he enjoyed pain, so it couldn't have been that he was squeamish.

“Yeah, can't afford it.” Karaku patted his pockets, casually searching for his vape. “Shit’s expensive, babe.”

He then proceeded to fill his lungs with artificial, strawberry laced air, inhaling his waxing money.

The irony was not lost on you, but you couldn't complain. Everyone had their vices.

The irony was lost on Karaku however. But you didn't care. His balls were silky smooth, and his elective circumcision performed by Enmu of all people wasn't even THAT botched. It wasn't his fault that you kept giving him boxers by simply existing.

What more could a person want? He fucked the sack up.

Aizetsu: Indifference

“You shaved your bush?” Aizetsu frowned, but he wasn't displeased with this new information. He was a pussy connoisseur, but he certainly didn't mind a little hair in his meal. He wasn't a total bitch, he just looked like one.

“Correct.” You bounced awkwardly on the balls of your feet.

Of course you knew you wouldn't achieve much of a reaction out of Aizetsu. The man was infamous for his mellow, perhaps pitiful reactions. Sometimes he didn't react at all, or worse, he would sigh.

You weren't expecting him to say, “Can I see?”

“Huh?!” Your bouncing halted immediately, calves remaining flexed.

You had known about his gluttony in the bedroom, but you hadn't expected him to act so brazenly. He was after all the most soft spoken within the household. But at the same time, he was also one of the most blunt, with only Zohakuten and occasionally Sekido rivaling him.

Faux tears welled in his tear ducts. “Don't make me repeat myself.”

He had long since mastered the art of manipulation. Practicing his expressions in a mirror for hours. Learning how to cry on command solely to get his way.

“I‐ um… yeah.” Warmth spread beneath your cheeks. “I can show you.”

Honestly, he didn't have to ask twice. You just liked to hear him beg.

Urogi: Devastation

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Anguish tore through Urogi's chest. This was almost worse than the time Zohakuten had put his pet bird in the blender. At least Zohakuten didn't have the audacity to laugh at him.

Your snickering was a bold move, but you couldn't help but find his overreaction hilarious. It was only pubic hair. It would grow back in a few days, maybe a week.

“Urogi…” You had to seal your lips into a tight line to not laughter in his face all over again.

“Make it grow back,” he cradled your razor to his chest, “Can't we glue the hair back?”

“No Urogi. We are not gluing pubes to my body.” You could slap him silly for suggesting something so asinine.

It wouldn't even work, they had been washed down the drain hours ago. You hadn't even meant to tell Urogi. He discovered it all on his own when he noticed your razor had a single hair left behind. He'd recognize your pubes anywhere.

It was almost creepy.

Almost.

Maybe it was actually… but in a cute way?

“How could you do this to me?” A single tear dramatically rolled down his cheek. “I'm a wilderness explorer!” He sniffled harshly. “And you took my jungle away.”

“Stop crying. You look like Aizetsu.” A loud sigh rumbled your diaphragm.

“At least Aizetsu wouldn't shave his bush!” Urogi's eyes were beyond crestfallen. You kind of felt bad for the poor dear. The only reason you couldn't bring yourself to have pity was because his woe was so idiotic.

“There's no way…” you muttered to yourself, pinching the bridge of your nose, exhaling slowly through your mouth, “Urogi, get up.”

“No.”

No? Who did he think he was?

But you were kind. “Would you like to get a new bird? Zohakuten won't be home anytime soon.”

“Okay!” He chirped, wearing his signature smile as if nothing had even happened, “I'm going to name him fatass, after Aizetsu.”

Well, that was easier than you had anticipated.

Hantengu: Distress

“You shaved your bush?!” Hantengu wailed, collapsing onto his knees like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

His decrepit fingers clung to the material of your clothing as he buried his face in your lap. Hot, fat tears soaked through the fabric, and his speech quickly became incoherent babbling.

“I did.” Your fingers raked through the pitiful creatures disheveled, long locks.

For you to change something so intimate without consulting him first was practically betrayal. You knew how sensitive he was, so how could you do this to him? He loved your bush.

“H-how could you — you cruel, cruel girl?” His nose nuzzled against your thigh, and his grip started to tremble.

Part of you wanted to laugh in his face. He was a grown man throwing a hissy fit like a child. Yet, you couldn't help but infantilize your pathetic, whimpering lover.

“Hey...,” You cupped his cheek in your hand, stroking a tear away with the pad of your thumb. Tipping his head backwards, gazing into his eyes, “I won't do it again. Okay?”

“O-okay…” A loud sniffle tore through his nose before he buried his leaky nose against your warmth once more.

Crisis averted, but at what cost?

The seclusion of your house feels much less comforting now, sitting on the very outskirts of your village that now makes you curse being such a recluse. 

Every creak of the old wooden house settling brings a startelement and the flickering flame that makes shadows dance along the walls tricks you into seeing a body that’s not there. 

Stalking wasn’t really something he liked to do but when the village he used as a food source started locking away their beauties, what was he to do? Your house was so conveniently along his path too, he meant to eat you sooner but how skittish you’ve become has been amusing to say the least. 

As much as you quake over the monster that terrorizes your town you still stay up so late, reading a book by the candlelight and biting at your thumbnail over whatever scene you’re reading captivates you. 

Your mannerisms and habits have caught Douma’s interest so he’s taken to watching you simply live, dwelling within your solitude. He finds it interesting how you rationalize the frost on your windows he creates to give some indication of his presence, looking at it in thought then writing it off as an off-season chill. He would think you were toying with him if you didn’t stiffen at the slightest noise out of place. 

Every creature he’s ever encountered was so dreadfully boring but he grows fond of this little dance you’re unknowingly a part of. Douma wants to accelerate the pace. How will you rationalize if your neighbors just up the street are discovered mutilated while your home is left untouched? It brings a twisted smile to his face the night he visits you and you vehemently refuse to leave your home. 

Do you count yourself lucky that your home was spared or think it coincidence? How many bodies does it take to shake you to your core? Douma counts five, one for every night of the week, oh he wishes he could’ve seen the look on your face when you’d heard all the women that surrounded you fell prey but somehow you were left safe. 

You don’t leave your home completely dark after that, is it because you think if you give the illusion that nobody's home your luck won’t run out? It’s almost laughable, oh how interesting he finds you. 

I think I’ll keep you, he thinks to himself when he finally comes from hiding, standing tall in the offensively tiny room of yours. He knows you’re awake, can hear your heart thundering in your chest while you hide under the covers. 

His footfalls are light but each floorboard creaks when he approaches your mattress, tugging away the covers with little resistance wearing a smile that actually meets his eyes for the first time. You shake like a leaf in turbulent winds until you see him for the first time. 

The monster that slaughtered your neighbors was only a man and one of the most beautiful you’d ever seen. It’s a sickening feeling that settles in your gut, the things he’s capable of and you can only think of the superficial. 

You flinch when the back of his hand strokes your cheek, making his lips part in a soft laugh. His nails are long but he’s careful not to knick your flesh, opening his mouth further to speak and revealing elongated canines that don’t belong to humans. 

“Expecting something else?” He questions like it’s obvious what you’re thinking, voice so smooth with a playful lilt that his touch feels almost comforting. Douma leans over you now, crouching next to your bed while he pets soothingly at your hair. You haven’t breathed a word, the silence stretching for what feels like hours. 

But that’s fine with him, he’ll draw out that voice he’s sure is just as beautiful as the rest of you. 

He tosses your covers away completely, leaving you only in the thin fabric of your sleeping robe; reaching to unfasten the knot that holds it together but your hand wraps around his wrist. He raises his eyebrows at the action, chuckling softly when he peels it away and crawls onto your bed. 

“If I wanted to hurt you,” he drawls slowly, watching as you crawl up your bed to lean against the wall, cornering yourself when he comes closer, “I already would have.”

If it was meant to be comforting you’ll never know, coming off as more of a threat while he touches your body, groping up your thighs. He’s splitting open the fabric in his venture upwards until you’re only covered by your hand bunching the parting fabric close to the apex of your thighs. Even then he coaxes your hand away, pushing your legs apart to reveal your slit, glistening with wetness when bathed in the sliver of moonlight that fills the room.

He gasps dramatically, wide smile on his face again when he moves to lean downward, keeping you from closing your legs by pressing one of his palms to your inner thighs. “I’ve waited long enough, be thankful it’s a different taste I want.” 

You whimper at his words, fresh tears stinging at the corners of your eyes when his face inches toward your cunt, the urge to close your knees together growing ever stronger until the tip of his tongue parts your folds. Both of your bodies tense, Douma gasping out, gripping both of your thighs so tightly his nails dig into your skin that earns a pained yelp that he pays no heed too. 

He lets out a groan, flattering his tongue completely to lick a long stripe up the expanse of your pussy, rolling his eyes at the taste of your essence. Your hips twitch when he passes over a protruding nub, licking over it again to earn the same reaction, smirking as he finds you trying not to enjoy it. 

He’s loud, embarrassingly so and it makes you want to cover your ears, sickened by how he slurps and groans between your thighs; you feel even worse that you’re drawing closer to climax the more he works at you. Your back arches, fingers coming to push at his head when the feeling grows stronger but he groans out, vibrations reverberating through your cunt and pushing you over the edge. 

The sound of your pleasured cry makes his shoulders slack, massaging at the backs of your thighs while he laps up your cum, sucking your lips before pulling away. His chin glistens when you finally focus on him, fixing your clothes and pulling you into his lap like this was some tender moment. 

Your body is stiff against him but Douma pays it no mind, petting your hair as he presses a kiss to your temple. It’s unbearably quiet for a long time before he breaks the silence, practically purring in your ear, “you taste so good.” 

It feels like eternity when he finally removes you from his lap, settling you back into your bed as he’d found you, cupping your cheek with a smile you find more sinister than sweet. 

“I’ll be back for you,” is all he whispers, leaving like he was a welcome guest with a promise to return. You feel even more on edge than when he first pulled the covers from you, rolling around in your bed until the sun rises and bathes your room in rays that don’t abate the cold emptiness you feel. 

There's a monster in your village but the cold chill of fear that he instills in his other victims doesn’t apply to you in the same way. He eats you too, devours you whole but never like the others, coming to you when he hungers carnally. You’re special, his favorite meal that satisfies him in ways no one else ever could, your screams in ecstasy music to his ears in contrast to the ones of horror he always elicits from others.